When the unconscious Ryan was taken into the hospital, his condition looked extremely dangerous. In fact, it was dire. His entire body was covered in wounds, most of them bone-deep. The healing rate was slow due to the exhaustion of his internal energy, and his talent wasn't particularly useful in this kind of crisis.
But despite the grim appearance, what no one realized was that Ryan's mind was undergoing a significant transformation.
Inside his sea of consciousness, Ryan was not unconscious at all. In fact, he was completely awake — in a world of pure white. Here, he was sitting cross-legged on an invisible platform. His surroundings were devoid of color, sound, or scent. The emptiness was absolute.
Suddenly, a small, flickering flame appeared in front of him.
Ryan focused on it. The flame represented his spiritual power — fragile and dim, but alive. He instinctively reached out, trying to grasp it. As his hand neared the flame, it flickered, resisting his presence. But Ryan remained calm. He knew that brute force wouldn't work here.
Instead, he simply sat quietly, allowing the flame to approach him on its own terms. Minutes passed, maybe hours, until finally, the flame drifted closer and settled gently into the palm of his hand. In that moment, Ryan felt a rush of warmth surge through him.
His spiritual power stabilized.
Now, something even more unexpected occurred. Behind the flame, a door appeared — ancient and mysterious, covered in strange symbols. Ryan had seen such a door once before during his inner cultivation, but it had always remained closed. This time, it creaked open slightly.
A voice echoed faintly: "You must decide — stay on this path of weakness or walk through to face true suffering."
Ryan didn't hesitate. He stepped through the door.
On the other side was chaos. Countless shadowy figures were fighting. At the center of it all stood a version of Ryan — taller, stronger, eyes full of clarity and might. This future version of himself stood still, as if waiting.
Suddenly, a loud sound broke through the illusion.
"Ryan! Ryan!"
He snapped awake. Back in the hospital bed, pain shot through every inch of his body. His vision was blurred, but he could see Charles and Albert standing nearby, both of them deeply worried.
"You scared the hell out of us," said Charles with a half-smile.
"What… happened?" Ryan's voice was hoarse.
Albert leaned forward, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You pushed yourself too hard. But you saved everyone in that trial. Without you, we might not have made it out of the illusion world."
Illusion world?
That's right — the trial. The world they entered was supposed to be a test of willpower, mental strength, and teamwork. Ryan had used every bit of strength he had, even drawing on forbidden power from the jade pendant Daisy had given him.
He remembered now. In the end, to protect his team, he absorbed the backlash of the illusion formation all by himself. That's what shattered his body.
Despite the pain, Ryan smiled.
"Did we pass the trial?" he asked.
"You did more than that," Charles said. "The instructors are calling you the MVP of the entire session. Even the head examiner from Tim Hortans came down to visit while you were unconscious."
Ryan's eyes widened. "Tim Hortans?"
"Yeah," Albert grinned. "Looks like someone's getting noticed."
Just then, a knock came from the door. A tall man in a black robe entered — Elder Rashid. Though typically strict and difficult to please, he had a rare expression of approval on his face.
"You've done well, Ryan," Rashid said simply. "Your potential has grown far beyond our expectations."
Ryan struggled to sit up. "Thank you, sir."
Rashid walked over to the window, looking outside. "We've decided to recommend you for the elite training camp in Black Pool Sand. Only the most promising talents from across North America are selected."
Ryan was stunned. "Me?"
"Yes. It's not just about strength — it's about willpower, leadership, and the ability to push past limits. You demonstrated all of that."
Charles and Albert both looked amazed. This was the kind of opportunity that could change someone's life.
"But…" Ryan frowned. "Am I even ready?"
"You will be," Rashid said. "You have one week to recover. Then, you depart."
As quickly as he entered, Rashid left, leaving the room in silence.
For a few moments, none of them spoke. Then Charles broke the tension.
"Dude, you're going to Black Pool Sand. That's insane."
Ryan still couldn't fully process it. From being the weakest in the class, mocked for his 'worst' talent, to being selected for elite training — it felt surreal.
But deep down, he knew this was only the beginning.
One Week Later
Ryan stood at the edge of the transport array. His body had mostly healed, though there were still lingering aches. He turned around to face Daisy, Charles, and Albert, who had come to see him off.
"Take care of yourself," Daisy said, handing him a new set of clothes and a pendant. "And don't forget what you promised me."
Ryan nodded. "I won't."
Charles clapped him on the back. "Go make us proud, brother."
Albert added, "And don't forget to send us a souvenir or two."
Ryan chuckled, then turned back toward the array. With a final wave, he stepped onto the formation circle. In a flash of light, he vanished.
Black Pool Sand Training Camp
Arriving at the camp was like entering a whole new world.
Dozens of elite students from across the continent had already gathered. Some were powerful ability users; others were geniuses with legendary talents. Ryan could feel the difference in atmosphere instantly — the pressure here was much greater.
He was just settling into his room when a voice called out from behind him.
"You must be the kid who took all the backlash from that illusion trial."
Ryan turned to see a girl in white robes, standing confidently with arms crossed. Her aura was strong — clearly a top student.
"I'm Natasha," she introduced herself. "You've got a bit of a reputation here already."
Ryan smiled. "Good to meet you."
"Don't let it get to your head," she added with a smirk. "Everyone here is a monster in disguise. You'll need more than guts to survive."
"I'll keep that in mind," Ryan replied calmly.
Just then, a loud voice boomed through the camp.
"All recruits to the central arena. Orientation begins now!"
Ryan took a deep breath.
His journey — from the bottom of the rankings to standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the best — had brought him here.
But this was only the beginning of a much larger storm.
And Ryan was ready to face it.
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